September 19, 2011

Pin money

I was reading a fascinating account earlier of 14th-century haberdashers, hatters, mercers and other tradesmen and guilds (it was actually in a book about Chaucer – Chaucer’s pilgrims: an historical guide to the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales by Laura C Lambdin) and the author mentioned the origin of the term pin money.

Pins were expensive items in those days and only used by the wealthy; the hoi-polloi used sharpened thorns to hold their hats in place and keep their garments together. There are various allusions in literature, including in The Canterbury Tales, to monks and friars making pins. A guild of pinmakers was first mentioned in 1376, and the livery company, the Company of Pinmakers, was incorporated in 1636.

Because of their expense, pins were regarded as the ideal gift to the ladies in one’s life, and many merchants received financial bonuses with the caveat that the money was to be used ‘for her pyns’.

Thanks for your kind words, John. Pin money is often used disparagingly here eg "She's only working for pin money" (the implication being that the husband earns enough for the family's needs).

I'd never heard of pin bones before now. Pin bone is in the OED but with reference to horses and cows. Plenty of references to pin bones on fish on the internet though. Pin bones seem to come from the original meaning of pin ie peg, spike or nail, and the idea is that they are projecting bones. Don't know if that makes sense with reference to fish.